“Yeah, well, not everyone in town would agree with you,” I answered.
“Really? Who?” he asked.
“Well, let’s just say I met an interesting waitress named Sam this morning,” I said, and I saw him tense up.
“Oh, God, Lilly, I am so sorry about her. I honestly didn’t know she worked there. What did she say? Was she rude?” he asked, looking embarrassed.
“Well, she didn’t say anything rude, but I think that I could have probably frozen ice on her ass,” I said, and he seemed to relax. “Would you care to explain how someone I have never met before looked at me like she wanted to rip my face off?”
He sighed. “Sam and I dated for almost two months last year. At that point, I hadn’t really dated anyone since college,” he said. “I tried to get back out there, but it just didn’t work out.” He hadn’t dated anyone else at that point in seven years? Oh wow.
“If you were only together for two months, that’s not a lot of time for her to be like she was to me today. Something else happened there.”
His face went red, and he asked, “Lilly, it was nothing, just forget about it.”
“Hey, this woman could have easily poisoned my food this morning. I deserve to know why.”
Sighing, he said, “Well, like I said, we only dated two months. Actually two months to the day of our first date, we went back to her apartment, and things were looking like they were going to head into the bedroom. Right in the middle of foreplay, I…oh god, this is so humiliating…I might have called her your name.”
My mouth fell open. “You called her the wrong name during foreplay? Well, no wonder she hates me. I’d hate me too,” I said, snickering.
“You think that’s funny?”
“Don’t you? Come on, think about it. It’s kind of funny,” I said, trying not to laugh.
His mouth broke into a smile. “Oh, all right, I guess it’s a little funny.”
“I guess I will have to try and stay out of her way while I’m here. She obviously hasn’t let it go. I don’t want us not to be friends because she might get the wrong idea.” He looked disappointed when I said the word “friends”, but he lightly shook his head.
“Well, I don’t really know what to tell her. I mean, I have moved on, she should too. I don’t want her wasting her life being mad over a two month relationship. Besides, this is your hometown, not hers. You shouldn’t have to skulk around hiding from her.”
“You are right. But, that’s not important right now. Tell me how the construction on the new office is going,” I said, and we chatted the rest of the way to our destination.
After talking for the rest of the ride, we pulled up in front of a little cottage with vine going up the sides, and parked next to a sign that read “Bella Signora”. As we stepped out of the car, I really looked at the little place, and said, “Luke, this place is great. It’s so cozy.”
“Oh, wait until you try the food. Especially, the caprese salad,” he said. “I just thought, with you being a chef, you would appreciate this place more than the average person.”
“Well, I can’t wait.”
He held out his arm. “Shall we?”
I reluctantly hooked my arm in his, and said, “Let’s go.” We walked arm and arm into Bella Signora, and we were seated immediately even thought the place was crowded. I looked at him, surprised, when we took our seats at a cozy booth in a back corner, and he stated, “I made reservations last night.”
Just then, a waiter came to our table. “Ciao, signore e la signora. Welcome to Belle Signora. My name is Antonio, and I will be your waiter this afternoon. May I start your visit with us by selecting from our wine list?”
Luke answered. “It’s nice to meet you, Antonio. I will have a glass of your best Pinot Grigio.”
Antonio answered, “Very good sir. And for the lady?”
“I will have a glass of Chardonnay, please.”
“Excellent choice, madam. I assume you would like a moment to order?”
“Yes, thank you very much,” Luke answered, and Antonio smiled at us, bowed his head, and walked toward the kitchen. “So, what do you think you will have?” he asked me.
My eyes scanned the menu. All of the food looked amazing. “I don’t know, everything looks delicious.”
“Can I make a suggestion?”
I smiled. “Sure.”
“I would try either the spinach and mushroom ravioli or the classic lasagna. You can’t go wrong with an Italian staple.”
“Well, if I have to choose between the two, I will go with the ravioli. Thanks for the suggestion. Knowing me, I would have probably taken forever to decide.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, and we set our menus down. As the waiter came back with our wine selections, we placed our orders. Once the waiter was gone, Luke said, “So, how are you liking being back in town?”
“You know, I thought it would be a little strange after being gone so long, but it’s not. Everything still feels the same. It’s actually comforting.” And unsettling.
“That’s nice. I have to admit though, it is really good to see you didn’t turn into a, forgive my language, snotty bitch being in California all that time,” he said, smiling.
I laughed. “Yes, thank God. Out of me and my two best friends, I have to say I am the tame one.”
“Really? Tell me about them.”
“Well, my best girl friend, Tara, does PR for a top agency. She actually did some of the PR for the restaurant I work at.”
“Is that how you two met?”
“No, actually she was my roommate in college. She’s my polar opposite, which is probably why we get along. We balance each other out. Although, I will admit she does get a little tiring to be around sometimes.”
“Well, I guess it’s good you are getting a break from her then,” he laughed.
“Yeah, she was all freaked before I came here.”
“Why is that?”
“She has this insane idea in her head that I will forget about her while I’m here and never want to come back,” I laughed. “She also told me not to fall in love with anyone.”
With a chuckle, Luke said, “Why would she say that? She wants you to be happy, doesn’t she?”
“Well, yes. I think she’s just afraid she won’t find another friend that will put up with her bullshit,” I laughed. “Besides, it’s not like that will happen anyway. I’m only here for a short time,” I said.
“Of course. Three weeks isn’t enough time to fall in love with someone so hard that you’d give up your life for them,” he said, taking a drink of his wine. I felt relieved to hear him say that. It was nice to know we were on the same page. “So, tell me about your other friend. I am sure you have more than just Tara.”
“Yes, I do. My best guy friend is Alejandro and he is a wedding coordinator. He’s going to be huge someday, I know it,” I said.
“They sound nice.”
“Well, they are nicer than Tara, that’s for sure. I think you’d like them. I know they would love you, especially Alejandro,” I laughed.
He rolled his eyes and smiled. “Okay, moving on. I seem to be the one asking all the questions, so now it’s your turn to ask me a question.”
“Really? Like what?”
“Anything you want to know. I’m an open book.”
I smiled wickedly. “This could be fun.”
“Come on, you know there is something you have been dying to ask me.”
Actually, there was one thing I was curious about. “Okay, well, here goes. How many girls have you slept with since me?” I can’t believe I got that out. I was a bit proud of myself.
He looked a little surprised, and a sly, sexy smile spread across his face. “How many guys have you been with since me?”
I grinned right back at him, saying, “I asked you first.”
Still smiling his killer smile, he sighed and said, “Eight. All while in college. One in my sophomore year, four my junior year, and three in my senior y
ear. No one serious, all one night stands, and no one since. Now it’s your turn.”
Eight? Ouch. I felt a little stab of disappointment. I can’t have expected him to be celibate, but it still burned somewhere deep in me that he’d obviously moved on past me. Well, at least he was honest. He was still waiting for my answer, eyebrows raised, so I sighed. “Just one,” I admitted, and my scalp prickled from embarrassment. “Right after I graduated college.”
“One? You are kidding, right?” he asked, genuine surprise on his face.
“What?” I asked, feeling even more embarrassed.
“How on earth have you only been with one person since we were together?”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, I mean come on, Lilly. Have you seen you? You’re absolutely gorgeous!” he said, disbelievingly.
“I don’t even know what to say to that,” I said, slightly laughing. “I’m sorry, I guess?”
He shook his head, and smiled. “I just remember how I felt being around you all the time. I could barely keep it in my pants,” he said, and we both laughed loudly.
“Thanks for the graphic image.”
“Sorry,” he chuckled. As we sat there and talked, I felt more and more at ease. We just sat together at our cozy table, laughing and talking about everything. He asked more about my restaurant and what my everyday life was like in San Francisco, and I asked him the same. The biggest surprise of all to me was when I asked him where he was living. It turned out that Luke moved into the lake house after his first year of college was over. He said that living at his childhood home again without his parents was too painful for him, so he moved into the one place in the world where he had no bad memories. I know that the reason he decided to move there wasn’t about me, but I did feel at ease knowing that he didn’t have any bad memories of me there, and that gave me hope that this was all going to work out.
In the span of five hours, I had eaten more than I usually would in two days. Luke was right about this place, it was incredible. The staff was all very nice and welcoming, and the food was to die for. I was too full to try the tiramisu, but I still ordered it to go. After we paid the bill (or rather Luke paid the bill-he refused any money from me), we put our coats back on the walked out to his car. Once again, he held the passenger door open for me, and closed it when I was comfortably inside. He climbed into the driver side, started the car, and we began our drive back to Glenbrook.
The ride back was much shorter and more comfortable than before. I was at ease knowing that we could be friends, and that it was like nothing had happened between us. I was happy knowing that this trip home was going to just what I wanted; to be able to spend time with family and friends and be here for my sister’s wedding. Rekindling my friendship with Luke was a bonus that I was thankful for. Getting to know him again was going to be fun. As soon as we pulled up in front of my house, we stopped the engine. “Thanks for lunch Luke, it was delicious.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it.”
“Listen, this is going to sound weird, but I have a favor to ask you.”
“Okay, sure.”
“Well, I know we are friends and everything, and that we will be hanging out a lot with the wedding and everything, but is there any way you would mind if when he hang out we can keep it to ourselves?”
Luke looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I know my family would love it if I moved back home, and I am afraid that if they know we are spending time together they might get the wrong idea. I don’t want to give them any kind of false hope.”
He looked at me and said, “S-sure, Lil. Anything you want.”
I smiled at him. “Okay, cool. Thanks. Well, I should probably get inside and check on Daisy. Hopefully she feels better.”
“Yeah, I hope so. What a bad time to get sick, what with the wedding coming up.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s the wedding. She told me she’s been really, really stressed lately. She told me she threw up at work the other day.”
He looked like he was thinking hard about something, and then said, “Hmm. Well, tell her I said I hope she feels better.”
“Okay, I will. Thanks again,” I said, and got out of the car. I waved at him as he drove away. As soon as I walked inside, I took my coat off and hung it by the door. “Anyone here?”
Daisy called from the kitchen. “In here, Lil. I just made a sandwich, do you want one?”
I laughed and said, “Dais, I just got back from lunch. I am completely stuffed. And how in the world can you be hungry?” I walked into the kitchen just as she was sitting down at the table. I started to put the condiments back into the refrigerator.
“Well, I threw up again once I got back home. Now I feel better, and I want to eat.”
“Daisy, in all seriousness, have you thought about going to the doctor? I know you are stressed out, but it can’t be good for you to be throwing up as much as you say you have been.”
“Lil, I’m fine, don’t worry.”
Then, something crossed my mind that hadn’t before. “Daisy, can I ask you a question?”
“Um, sure, I guess.”
“Is there any way at all you could be pregnant?”
Daisy laughed so hard she almost spit out her food. “Um, there is no way in hell I could be pregnant. Jack and I use protection. And besides, I already ruled that out. I took a test a few days ago. Negative,” she said.
“Well, I know sometimes the tests don’t pick up the pregnancy hormone if you take it too early.” I noticed her eyes widen slightly, and I answered, “Not me. A coworker.”
“Look, I know that I am not pregnant, but will it make you feel better if I take another one?”
“Actually, it would. Thank you,” I said, and placed the jar of mustard in the refrigerator. I placed my tiramisu on the top shelf, and then shut the door.
“Okay, I will buy a test tonight and take it in the morning. That’s the best time to take one.”
I sat down at the table next to her. “So, what are your plans for the night?”
“Well, I was thinking about hitting Brody’s Bar. You want to come?”
“Yeah, why not? It will be my first time there. Last time I was home I wasn’t old enough to get in.”
“Awesome! Saturday night is karaoke night, it will be fun.” She took another bite of her sandwich, and asked me, “So, how was your lunch with Luke? Did you two talk about things?”
“Well, in a roundabout way, yes. He knows that I’m only here for a few weeks, and that I want nothing more than to be friends.”
“Great. And he was on the same page?”
“Yeah. He even agreed to keep it quiet if we hang out. Don’t want people getting the wrong idea about us.”
“Wait a second. You told him not to tell anyone if you two meet up to hang out? Lil, that’s kind of weird.”
“Why is that weird? I want to spend time with him as a friend, but I don’t want people in town talking and taking the focus off of Vi’s wedding.”
“Well, that may be, but did you think about how Luke may have taken that?”
“How?”
“Like I did. It’s weird.”
“Okay, I will clarify what I meant the next time I see him. I am not ashamed to be his friend, but I just know how people in this town talk. I want to be his friend without everyone’s eyes on me.”
“Okay then. So, change of subject. How was lunch? Where did y’all go?” she asked, and I sat down at the table, recounting my lunch with Luke. Oh man, what if Daisy was right? I didn’t mean to make Luke feel bad or anything. I wasn’t ashamed to be hanging out with him, but thinking back on how I had asked him my favor, it really did sound that way. Who was I to ask him something like that? ‘Hey Luke, nice to see you, let me be all blushy and flirty and complimentary to you, but then ask to be friends with you on the sly so no one will think we are doing it?’ When I played it back in my mind like that, I was sounding like a bitch. I was goi
ng to call him later and straighten this out. I didn’t want to lose a friend over my paranoia. Daisy suddenly pulled me out of my wandering thoughts. “Hey, what do you think?”
“Oh, sorry, my mind was somewhere else.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure where. I asked if you wanted to actually go shopping. Ya know, put some truth to the lie.”
“Um, sure. I really do need to do my holiday and wedding gift shopping, that much is true. When do you want to go?”
“Well, how ‘bout now? Brody’s won’t be busy until later tonight. What do you say?”
I sighed and smiled. “I say, let’s go put a dent in my credit card.” She squealed, and we both got out coats on and made our way to the closest mall.
Chapter 9
Brody’s Bar
After a busy, and expensive, day of shopping, Daisy and I finally made it back home. I loved shopping, especially when it was for other people. I had gotten everything I needed for everyone from Mama and Daddy all the way to Evan and Jack. I also bought a gift for Luke. Before we knew it, it was time to head out for our ladies night at Brody’s. I hadn’t really packed anything to wear to a bar, so I bought a few new outfits while I was out. After trying everything on at least once, I ended up settling on a pair of skinny jeans, calf high black stiletto boots, and a black sparkly tank top. I twisted my hair into a messy updo, put on a pair of silver hoop earrings, threw on a little lipstick, and walked downstairs to meet Daisy. At that moment, Mama and Daddy walked through the front door. “Hey darling,” said Daddy.
I walked to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Hey. Did you two have a good time?”
“Oh yes, the movie was great. How was your day? Your Mama told me you went Christmas shopping with Daisy.”
“Yes, and I think I might have spent three months pay on everything we bought.” When I noticed him raise a speculative eyebrow at me, I said, “Don’t look at me like that. I hadn’t shopped at all yet, and I had a lot to get.”
“Okay then. It’s your money, I guess. Spend it how you want,” Daddy said, smiling warmly. Even though we grew up comfortably, Daddy was never one to take it for granted, and donated to different charities often.
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